A Little War That Shook The World : Review

“A Little War That Shook The World”, the last book by Ronald D. Asmus before his death, is in lack of better words, a must-read. It is the first, and by far the only draft of history, of an event which had repercussions across the globe, and continues to do so. It clearly suffers from purple patches, repetitions, and occasional diatribes, but in totality, it charts an event which ironically is much neglected. And therefore, for students of politics, diplomacy, international relations and foreign policy, this book becomes invaluable for the insight and the firsthand account it provides.

The 5 day August war between Russia and Georgia changed the geo-political and geo-strategic scenario of Europe. It is important for several reasons. It was the first East-West conflict, since the end of Cold War. It was the first European war since the Second World War, where the boundary of one sovereign nation was changed by force. The first instance where USA took a backseat to let European Union decide on solving the crisis, and most importantly it demonstrated the resurgence of Russia, and her turning back to autocratic tendencies and 19th century “sphere of influence” politics, after 20 years of military pacifism, Perestroika and self portrayed ignominy.

The book portrays Mikheil Saakashvili as a maverick; instead of the “hothead” he is shown in the World media, and the UN investigation report…a leader whose only motivation was to take his country West towards greater Atlanticism and democracy, despite opposition from Russia. It also carefully charts with statistics the massive, disproportionate, and deadly counterattack of Russia, “something like hell”, determined on crushing any opposition to its territorial ambition and influence, NATO’s westward expansion and teaching the west a lesson for the impunity and perceived injustice in Kosovo, which Russia thinks as a tremendous injustice done to her. In fact, according to the author, it is the recognition of Kosovo a decade back, which started this eventual downslide to madness. The war was a careful planning by the Russians, premeditated, prepared and decided for years. The August crisis was just a trap where the options were either a slow balkanization and disintegration of Georgia, or a war and forced amputation. Saakashvili took the latter.

The book is not without flaws. While demonizing Putin, Ron Asmus praised Gorbachev and Yeltsin as visionaries who took Russia towards greater freedom. Gorbachev I understand, but Yeltsin?! Perhaps the author forgot the famous quote by Yeltsin during the second Chechen War in Grozny, where he responded to Bill Clinton, “ It seems he has for a minute, for a second, for half a minute, forgotten that Russia has a full arsenal of nuclear weapons. “

Also, the book is silent about the future of Atlanticism, and NATO. The internal problem of NATO started during the Balkan crisis, increased gradually with Iraq, Kosovo and Georgia, and came to the forefront, openly during the recent Arab Spring. Is the future of the alliance over then? Cause with each passing day it is just looking like a Cold War relic, an outdated bureaucratic super-state. Perhaps Ron Asmus, being the chief architect and advocate of an expanded and enlarged NATO couldn’t come to admit that maybe, his experiment was wrong. The newly joined states don’t have the democratic platform, free-market, or military prowess to join the alliance, much less carry the responsibility that comes with it.

Why do I recommend this book then? Simply because, it is the only comprehensive book among a rare few written on this episode of history, which is unfortunately not much discussed and charted. Today when we see Putin about to come back to power, reforming the old Soviets and promoting Eurasianism, Russia Veto-ing sanctions against Iran and Syria, and warning of Nuclear war in its neighbourhood if the expansion of NATO is not stopped, we remember that this course was already foretold a couple of years back. Ron Asmus died a few months back. His book is still taking us interested foreign policy and diplomacy, to elementary schools. He is such an authority. And as this beautiful and flowing piece in Economist reads, “I worry that his passing marks the passing of an age. He epitomised the generous-spirited and ambitious sentiments that won the cold war and rebuilt Europe on the rubble of the evil empire. Things seem more mean-spirited now.”